Bio

Matthew Tkachuk Bio

Tkachuk has a considerably strong hockey bloodline.

His father is U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame forward Keith Tkachuk, who played 18 seasons in the NHL. And Matthew is a cousin of New Jersey Devils assistant general manager Tom Fitzgerald and NHL forwards Kevin and Jimmy Hayes.

Tkachuk has a considerably strong hockey bloodline.

His father is U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame forward Keith Tkachuk, who played 18 seasons in the NHL. And Matthew is a cousin of New Jersey Devils assistant general manager Tom Fitzgerald and NHL forwards Kevin and Jimmy Hayes.

Tkachuk played in the USHL for two seasons with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program from 2013-15. He was selected by London in the fourth round (No. 64) of the 2013 Ontario Hockey League draft.

The gritty forward stood out in his rookie OHL season in 2015-16, finishing fifth with 107 points (30 goals, 77 assists) in 57 games. He helped London win the OHL championship, scoring 40 points (league-best 20 goals, 20 assists) in 18 playoff games. London went on to win the Memorial Cup, defeating Rouyn-Noranda 3-2 in overtime in the final.

The Calgary Flames selected Tkachuk at No. 6 in the 2016 NHL Draft. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Calgary on July 7, 2016.

Tkachuk made the Flames out of training camp and played most of the 2016-17 season in the top six, finishing with 48 points (13 goals, 35 assists) and 105 penalty minutes, ninth among NHL forwards, in 76 games. He made his NHL debut Oct. 12, 2016, at the Edmonton Oilers and got his first NHL point six days later with a goal at home against the Buffalo Sabres.

Tkachuk went scoreless in his first Stanley Cup Playoff action, playing all four games for Calgary, which was swept by the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference First Round.

After the season, Tkachuk finished seventh in voting for the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the top rookie in the NHL.